The Best I Could
By Subhas Anandan
Review by Eliza (Law)
There has always been no question that murderers, rapists and conmen – the archetypal 鈥渂ad guys鈥濃�攕hould be severely dealt with under the rule of law. I believed that justice could only be achieved by prosecuting and dealing out harsh sentences to such individuals. However, after reading Subhas Anandan鈥檚 autobiography,聽The Best I Could, I realised that my conception of justice was perhaps too simple and narrow.
What would it be like to defend your country鈥檚 most notorious criminals? Anandan鈥檚 biography provides this unusual take on the criminal legal scene. Anandan was Singapore鈥檚 most prominent criminal lawyer, earning a reputation for representing the perpetrators of Singapore鈥檚 most grisly crimes. In his autobiography, he recounts cases from the span of his illustrious career. This includes the story of 鈥渢he One-Eyed Dragon鈥�, a former triad leader who was found guilty of gunning down a night club owner. Anandan also represented Leong Siew Chor, who had murdered his lover, chopped up her body into seven parts and dumped them at various places across the island. Anandan also details his encounters with Anthony Ler, who had persuaded a 15-year-old to murder his wife.
Anandan鈥檚 stories are gripping and striking. However, I could not help but wonder鈥攚hy would he choose to represent clients who, for the most part, were to all intents and purposes, guilty? Anandan explains that 鈥渆ven the most heinous offender deserves a proper trial鈥� Why should anybody say that he is guilty when the court has not found him guilty yet?鈥� I realised then, that this too, was a means of achieving justice.
Through reading the book, I felt the strength, compassion and firmness that Anandan had in working with his various clients, and better understood the emotional turmoil that came with his work, which could easily seem to be in conflict with one鈥檚 values. Anandan鈥檚 vivid storytelling humanized the criminals, providing an intimate take on many high-profile criminal cases. I was also introduced into the complexities of the law. In the case of Aniza Bte Essa, the defendant received a lenient sentence compared to her teenage lover, whom she had manipulated into murdering her husband. This apparent disjunction unnerved me, but ultimately sparked my interest in law.
Written in plain English, and interjected with funny stories from Anandan鈥檚 youth, this book will certainly not disappoint.
The Best I Could by Subhas Anandan
ISBN-10: 9814677817
ISBN-13: 9789814677813
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